I got a message today that asked about taking their puppy out in public. One trainer told them to bring their puppy out into public, settle them down with a lick mat, and let them have a pleasant experience. Another told them they needed to get the puppy out working. So they came to me – what do you do?
First, I think you need to set a clear goal before you can decide. Is this trip out training, is it socialization, or do I want to go somewhere and I need to bring my puppy.
Because if it is training, no, I’m not going to put out a lick mat and let them focus on that in public. I am going to take them out armed with some treats, a plan for what to work on, and we will do those things and head home.
But if it is socialization then I have no goal but exposure – so settling a puppy somewhere with a lick mat is appropriate. UNLESS your puppy is so fixated on the lick mat that they fail to notice the world around them. Socialization only works if they actually absorb the exposure you are giving them. It does not occur by osmosis, but actual interaction and observation of the world. So if your puppy is so food driven that the world stops existing when they have a lick mat, try simply taking them out in the world to observe. And if they cannot, because they are too overstimulated, than instead of adding a distraction (like food) give them the space they need until they can calmly observe. In other words, back up. If sitting at the table in an outdoor cafe is too much, can they sit in the parking lot, can they observe from the car – give them more space and take it at their speed.
And then there are the moments where I just need to get out and do something and my puppy has to come. We are at the cafe table because I am meeting a friend and I decided to bring the puppy along but I know I cannot commit to training or structured socialization – then we have management. And a lick mat can provide excellent management – think of it like handing a child an iPad. You know they are not really learning, but, it keeps them happy and quiet and so it is okay for that moment. It prevents them from practicing the behaviors you don’t want – wandering away, jumping on the table, barking. In those situations a lick mat is also great, but it isn’t training, and it isn’t really socialization.
There are moments in raising a puppy where you are going to need all of them – training, socialization and yes, management – sometimes all in one outing. You might have a plan to go out to a park, to work on some recall and leash walking – and then sit at a bench and observe, or practice your attention work. But the moment that a big, exuberant Golden comes bounding up with joy in it’s heart – you know the training won’t stick, the socialization might not be the positive experience you want it to be – so you slip into management, stick a cheese stick in front of your puppy’s nose and get out of there.
The trick isn’t to focus on one or the other, the trick is to be clear with yourself what you are doing when, and make sure it matches your goals. Because to get a well rounded puppy, you need to be a well rounded trainer.
Old Dogs New Tricks Dog Training 